Paris motet

The motet originated in early 13th-century Paris as a new text applied to existing music. Specifically, words were added to the upper voices of descant clausulae, which were sections of organum. Organum featured a plainchant melody in the tenor voice with one or more added melodies above it.1

Initially, these added texts were in Latin and intended for church use. However, by the late 13th century, secular French texts became common, and sometimes even popular French songs were used as the basis instead of plainchant. The classic Paris motet developed into a three-part composition with a plainchant tenor and two faster-moving upper parts, each with its own secular French text. Motets served both liturgical and secular purposes.12